$10 million CAFI-funded project, implemented by UNDP, will reward communities that protect forests around Bangui
Bangui, 30 September 2026 – The Prime Minister and Head of Government of the Central African Republic, H.E. Félix Moloua, officially launched the Payments for Environmental Services (PES) Project for Bangui and its surrounding areas today. He presided over the ceremony on behalf of the President of the Republic, H.E Professor Faustin Archange Touadéra, under whose High Patronage the workshop took place.
The project is funded by CAFI with $10 million, of which 1 913 400 USD are payments to beneficiaries based on measured results and implemented by UNDP. Delivered with the Government, local administrative authorities and project aggregators, the project marks the Central African Republic’s entry into the implementation of Payments for Environmental Services at national level.
Rewarding those who protect the forest
The project rests on a simple principle: communities that protect forests and natural resources should be recognized, supported and rewarded for their efforts. It combines three types of action (producing, restoring and conserving) to offer a concrete alternative to extensive practices that damage the forest.
Individuals and communities providing environmental services will receive competitive financial incentives, along with technical and administrative support to help them meet eligibility and performance criteria. Payments will go directly to providers once results have been verified, so that the financial benefits of conservation reach those who make the effort. Transparency and traceability of financial flows are built into the mechanism.
Conservation as an engine of local development
Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Moloua noted that the project reflects the Government’s choice of an approach that combines environmental protection and economic development. He described it as a pilot that will test concrete incentive mechanisms for good environmental practices while increasing the incomes of beneficiary households.
“We want to show that it is possible to turn environmental challenges into opportunities for local development,” said the Prime Minister, adding that the Government will ensure implementation follows the principles of good governance, transparency, efficiency and equity.
The Prime Minister also noted that the initiative contributes to the National Development Plan, the country’s international climate commitments and the Sustainable Development Goals. He acknowledged the role of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, which led the process.
The UNDP Resident Representative stressed that the project is the result of joint work. She highlighted the personal involvement of the President and the Government’s steady commitment during negotiations with CAFI. In her view, these negotiations opened up access to international climate and environmental finance.
“Protecting nature must also help improve the lives of the Central African people,” the UNDP Resident Representative in CAR said. “The communities concerned must be able to take full part in implementing the project.”
A shift in approach, backed by CAFI
CAFI’s Executive Board approved the funding for the project in 2026. CAFI promotes long-term partnerships and recognizes the need for a major shift: turning forest conservation and sustainable land management into a direct source of financial value for local communities. By placing performance and transparency at the heart of the mechanism, this project aims to show that forest conservation and the provision of environmental services can become a genuine economic and social driver for Bangui and its surroundings.